The Top 14 Free SXSW Parties and Events You Need to Attend this Year

South By Southwest isn’t just for badge holders. The whole city gets involved to celebrate with free food, drinks, live music and good times. Here are our picks for the parties worth the wait in line. RSVP to all of them and get out there.

Food Network’s Rachael Ray LOVES Austin, even calling it a “Utopian City” during her panel at the Texas Women’s Conference. Every year she returns and celebrates at SX with her Feedback Festival. This year, she and John Cusimano are taking over Stubb’s BBQ, where guests will enjoy incredible food and live music.
• March 21st 10am-4pm
• Stubb’s BBQ 801 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701
• RSVP here

Take a shuttle and line your pockets with business cards. With over 50 startups hosting, this kick-off to SXSW is a networking frenzy. You’ll interact with the the idea makers of Austin and learn about all the latest in tech and startups. Hosted by Capital Factory and Hipchat, the 2015 ATX Startup Crawl promises to be the biggest yet, with tons of free cold beer, swag and snacks at every stop.
• Capital Factory 701 Brazos Street, Suite 1601 Austin TX 78701
• March 12 5pm-10pm
• RSVP for your map

Pandora’s 4th annual Discovery Den is happening March 18-21 at The Gatsby. This party is a breeding ground for discovering and launching new names in music – featuring 37 artists from eight countries and four genres (electronic, hip hop/R&B, Americana and rock) – from the legendary, like Wyclef Jean, to the emerging, like ODESZA and Big Data.
• The Gatsby 708 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701
• Weds. Mar. 18 – Saturday, March 21 2pm-11:30 PM
• RSVP here

One of South By’s most highly anticipated parties, Spotify House has one hell of a line up this year. We are looking forward to live performances by Misterwives and getting down to talented DJ sets. You never know who might show up at Spotify House (like Snoop Dogg last year), so don’t miss out!
• 901 E 6th St. Austin, TX 78702
• March 18-21
• See website for full schedule

This five day community event held in the shared parking lot of Hotel San Jose and Jo’s is always and forever free to attend. You’ll want to join in the live music, local vendors, cold beer. Don’t miss the Ting Tings and Milo Greene on Saturday the 21st.
• Hotel San Jose 1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, Texas 78704
• Mar. 18-21 Music begins every day at noon
• More information here

Ticket resource Stubhub is hosting its SXSW Culture Collide parties on Rainey St. this year. The day we have marked down is Tuesday, Mar. 17 when Portugal the Man, Future Islands and The Delta Riggs take the stage.
• Clive Bar 609 Davis St, Austin, TX 78701
• Mar. 17-19
• RSVP here

KGSR’s Andy Langer, Kristen Kurtis and Kelly Jordan are hosting this year’s morning SXSW broadcasts at the W Hotel. Music begins EARLY, but the lineup is not-to-be-missed. Each artist will play two songs, then answer questions from the broadcast hosts. We are most excited to hear The Ting Tings, Kopecky, Bright Light Social Hour, Max Frost on Friday.
• The W Hotel Austin 200 Lavaca St.
• 6am to 10am Wednesday thru Friday, and 8am to noon on Saturday.

Free and open to the public, the Waterloo parties bring the corner of Lamar and 6th to life. Their daily lineups are awesome, with 7 bands each day. We are excited about their country set on Thursday, when Robert Earl Keen and Asleep at the Wheel take the stage.
• Waterloo Records 600 N. Lamar
• Mar. 18-21; 12pm-6pm
• Free, no badge or RSVP required

Food Lines Worth the Wait

Hopdoddy’s burgers are really special. Every weekend, but especially during SXSW, diners wait in absurdly long lines for a taste of their crafted burgers, including everything from the El Diablo with habaneros and serranos to the teriyaki ahi tuna with sprouts and honey wasabi. Their tap selection is carefully curated, including only the best craft brews. The perk of waiting in this line: they’ll bring you cocktails or a boozy milkshake while you wait.
• Two locations: North (2438 Anderson Lane) and South Congress (1400 S. Congress)
• Open daily 11am-10pm

Micklethwait Craft Meats

You might have to fight the line with Jimmy Kimmel, who visited the truck last year during SXSW in a throwdown to determine who was making the best BBQ in Austin. Since 2012, Micklethwait has specialized their all in-house menu of sausage, brisket, and sliced pork shoulder as well as baking their own bread and desserts and specialty sides. Don’t miss: Brisket, jalapeño bread and cheese grits.
• Daily, 11am-sold out
• 1309 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702

The legend and crown jewel of line-standing for meat in Austin is, indeed, worth the wait. During SXSW, visitors from far and wide will stand in line for over 6 hours for BBQ. Not kidding. If you do, make sure you bring a camp chair, a cooler of beer, and sunscreen.
• Franklin BBQ 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
• Open 11am-Sold out Tues.-Sun.

For an alternative to the lines, food and wine lovers should check out The First French Bistro, featuring Michelin-starred Chef Gérard Bossé and Angers Chef Rémi Fournier. Austin forager Valerie Broussard is working with them locally to source the best ingredients in Austin for their premiere pop-up at the French Ligation museum all throughout SXSW
• French Ligation Museum, 802 San Marcos St
• Make reservations here

Bo Duncan graduated from NYU with a BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in digital media and wears many hats, from blogger to mom to marketer to event planner to Managing Editor of Citygram. She created the paleo recipe blog, Three Diets One Dinner.
Bo lives in Austin, Texas where she eats barbecue by the ton. serves as Co-founder of the Legs and Stems Wine Club and member of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance.

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